Production Details / Press Releases
Three dancers in magnificent, sumptuously flowing baroque garments move across a green field. They slowly approach the spectators, separated from them by a white fence. A percussionist beats out a driving accompaniment. Hunting, conquest and military traditions – these are the themes which dancer and choreographer Rudi van der Merwe addresses in this site-specific performance. “Trophée” is a choreographic crusade that investigates the relationship between human beings and their environment, their need to draw boundaries and take possession, to domesticate and exploit.
Rudi van der Merwe grew up in the South African town of Calvinia. He studied dance and drama in South Africa, modern literature in Strasbourg and film in London. In 2002 he participated in the ex.e.r.ce program in Montpellier under Mathilde Monnier. He lives in Geneva, where in 2010 he founded his company Skree Wolf. In his work, he is interested in power relations, in relations between individuals and groups, and in humanity in the face of infinity. His works include “I’d like to save the world, but I am too busy saving myself”, “Miss En Abyme”, “Celestial Spunk” and “Buzz Riot”. rudivandermerwe.com
[Source: play bill]
TFB Nr. 1081
Cast & Credits
Concept: Rudi van der Merwe, Béatrice Graf
Choreography: Rudi van der Merwe
Artistic Collaboration: Susana Panadés Diaz, József Trefeli
With: Claire-Marie Ricarte, Ivan Blagajcevic, Rudi van der Merwe
Music: Béatrice Graf
Collaboration Stage Design: Victor Roy
Collaboration Costumes: Kata Tóth
Administration: Laure Chapel / Pâquis Production
Distribution: Gábor Varga / BravoBravo
Production: Skree Wolf
Coproduction: Festival Antigel
Supported by République et Canton de Genève und Corodis.
With the kind support of Pro Helvetia, Schweizer Kulturstiftung.
In cooperation with Vierfelderhof Berlin.
Tanz im August 2017
Artistic Director: Virve Sutinen
Executive Producer: Isa Köhler
Producer & Assistant to Artistic Director: Marie Schmieder
Curator & Producer: Andrea Niederbuchner
Assistant Producer: Alina Sophie Lauer
Technical Director: Patrick Tucholski
Tanz im August is a festival by HAU Hebbel am Ufer, funded by the Capital Cultural Fund and the Senate Department for Culture and Europe.
Video Documentation
The video documentation is produced on behalf of the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. The purpose of this contract is to document productions in the field of contemporary dance in Berlin. The master recordings are archived by the University Library of the Berlin University of Arts. Copies of the recordings on DVD are available for viewing exclusively in the reference collections of the following archives (at media desks in these institutions):
University Library of the Berlin University of Arts
Mediathek für Tanz und Theater des Internationalen Theaterinstituts / Mime Centrum Berlin
Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin (HZT)